Religion and politics

Dec 21, 2013 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
Pope Francis is known for the pro-poor stance he has taken and for his humble lifestyle which apparently did not go down well with some people, even from within the Catholic Church.
Responding to conservative criticisms that his economic and social ideas smack of “communism” he said in an interview with an Italian newspaper that he is not a Marxist but that “even Marxists can be good people.” He no doubt had in mind people of such stature as Nelson Mandela, Cheddi Jagan and perhaps Karl Marx himself, who along with Friedrich Engels, came up with the ideology of Marxism/Leninism. Marxism is a working class ideology based on the tenets of dialectical and historical materialism.
There is no doubt that there are fundamental differences between religion and Marxism. But there are also many things which both ideologies share in common, especially when it comes to advocacy of the poor and the oppressed. The basic premise of Marxism is that society as is currently configured is skewed in favour of the rich and that the fruits of human labour are not equitably distributed.
In the eyes of the Church, Marxism, because of its scientific world view and its materialistic interpretation of man and society, is doctrinally inconsistent with the core teachings of religion. Marxism, after all, promotes a world view that is scientific and therefore runs counter to the doctrines of the Church which essentially is premised on the belief that there is life after death and that righteousness is rewarded in the hereafter.
It is not my intention to enter the debate on religion versus Marxism, except to draw attention to the ongoing debate which is making the rounds as a result of the Pope’s advocacy for the poor and the oppressed, which is interpreted by some as an endorsement of ‘communism.’
Only recently, an American radio talk show host with a big following in the United States took objection to remarks made by the Pope on the global economy. According to the talk show host, parts of the Pope’s remarks were “pure Marxism” coming from the mouth of the Pope. He also accused the Pope of going beyond “Catholicism” and being political.
Pope Francis however stood his ground by emphasizing that even though ideologically Marxism is ‘wrong,’ he had during the course of his life known of many Marxists who in his view were good people.
Only a month ago, the Pope attacked what he termed “unfettered capitalism” as a new tyranny and said that an economy of exclusion and inequality had proven to be deadly for many people around the world.
In response to his critics, Pope Francis said he was not speaking as a technician but according to the social doctrine of the Roman Catholic Church, and “this does not mean being Marxist. He said he was merely seeking to present a “snapshot of what is happening in the world today.”
The fact is that there is so much poverty and exclusion in the world today that one does not have to be a Marxist or a believer in religion to be concerned and worried. The gap between the rich and the poor is getting wider and wider as more and more people are condemned to a life of poverty and want. Every human being with a strong sense of social justice cannot help but be depressed by the extent of poverty and social deprivation that is afflicting humanity today.
This is why Pope Francis must be commended for calling for a new and more humane system of distribution of the goods and services of human labour.
Capitalism, as a mode of production and distribution, has failed to address the problems of humanity. This is because capitalism by its very nature is concerned more about profits rather than satisfying the material and cultural needs of mankind as a whole. This is why the call for a new global human order has such great resonance among peoples all across the globe.
There must be a more enlightened and humane social order which puts people and not profits at the centre of human existence. It is in this context that the Pope’s statements on “unfettered capitalism” must be situated. Religion has a role to play in advancing the cause of humanity, and the sentiments expressed by the Pope are as relevant as they are refreshing, especially at this time of the year when so much emphasis is put on reaching out to the poor and the needy.
It is good to be charitable but it is better to help eliminate the economic structures and conditions that created poverty and indignity.
Hydar Ally

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